September Jobless Rates Decline Seasonally in All Michigan Regions

September Jobless Rates Decline Seasonally in All Michigan Regions

Lansing – Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates in September decreased in all of the state’s 17 major labor market areas, according to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget. Workforce levels moved down in the majority of regions, while total employment trends were mixed across the state.

“Labor market trends exhibited typical movement for September,” said Jason Palmer, director of the Bureau of Labor Market Information & Strategic Initiatives. “Unemployment declines were largely influenced by usual September reductions in the labor force coupled with seasonal recalls in area schools as the academic year commenced.”

In the month of September, regional unemployment rates ranged from 2.6 to 4.4 percent. Jobless rate declines ranged from -0.1 percentage points to -0.9 percentage points with a median drop of -0.2. The most pronounced over-the-month rate reductions were recorded in the Monroe (-0.9), Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (-0.5) and Upper Peninsula (-0.4) areas. The September Michigan non-seasonally adjusted rate was 3.5 percent, or one-tenth of a percentage point below that of the nation.

Jobless Rates Decline Over Year

Since September 2017, jobless rates fell in all 17 Michigan labor market areas. Unemployment rate reductions over the year ranged from 0.9 to 1.9 percentage points with a substantial median drop of 1.2 percentage points. The largest over-the-year rate cut occurred in the Monroe metro region (-1.9). Flint, Lansing-East Lansing, Muskegon, as well as Northeast Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula all recorded rate declines of 1.3 percentage points over the year.

Total Employment Mixed Over Month, Up Over Year

In September, total employment levels rose in seven labor market areas, with a median advancement of 1.0 percent. The largest over-the-month employment gain occurred in the Lansing-East Lansing MSA, up by 2.4 percent since August. Nine Michigan regions recorded employment declines over the month, with a median reduction of -0.6 percent. The most pronounced monthly decrease occurred in the Northwest Lower Michigan region, where employment fell seasonally by 4.0 percent. Jackson’s total employment remained unchanged in September.

Since September 2017, total employment moved up in 12 areas by 0.1 to 2.0 percent with a median uptick of 0.5 percent. The largest over the year additions were seen in the Grand-Rapids-Wyoming (+2.0), Lansing-East Lansing (+1.1) and Ann Arbor (+0.9) MSAs. Minor employment reductions were recorded in four regions, with Bay City and Jackson exhibiting the most notable decline of 0.4 percent each. Muskegon demonstrated no employment change since September 2017.

Labor Force Levels Fell Over Month and Year

During September, eleven metro regions exhibited over-the-month labor force drops, with a median decline of -0.8 percent. The most pronounced seasonal decrease occurred in the Northwest Lower Michigan region (-4.0), while the smallest occurred in the Kalamazoo-Portage metro area (-0.2). Workforce levels moved up in six Michigan regions with a median increase of 0.6 percent. The largest over-the-month labor force growth occurred in the Lansing-East Lansing metro area, up by 2.2 percent.

Since September 2017, labor force reductions occurred in all regions with the exception of Grand Rapids-Wyoming, which advanced by 1.1 percent over the year. Workforce declines ranged from -0.2 to -1.6 percent, with a median drop of -1.0 percent. Labor force decreases were most pronounced in the Bay City and Jackson metro areas, which both dropped by 1.6 percent over the year.

Education Pushes Payroll Jobs Upward in September

The monthly survey of employers indicated that seasonally unadjusted payroll jobs in Michigan progressed by 29,100, or 0.7 percent in September to 4,462,200. Although private sector jobs fell by -29,000 over the month, a large seasonal increase of 58,100 Government jobs pushed employment up considerably since August.

Job additions in universities and local schools accounted for a large portion of over-the-month employment gains. Local government educational services (+39,200), State government educational services (+24,900) and private Education and health services (+8,300) all exhibited considerable job additions as students returned to school for the beginning of the academic semester. Professional and business services also recorded employment advances over the month, up by 8,200.

Industries demonstrating considerable seasonal job declines in employment included Leisure and hospitality (-21,900) Construction (-7,100) and Trade, transportation, and utilities (-10,300). The Niles-Benton Harbor and Muskegon MSAs recorded large percentage monthly job cuts in Leisure and hospitality, down by 10.1 percent and 7.1 percent, respectively.

Payroll jobs rose in 11 of the state’s 14 metro regions with advances ranging from 0.5 to 4.1 percent, and a median increase of 1.5 percent. Metro regions with the most prominent over-the-month percent job gains included Lansing (4.1%) and Ann Arbor (3.3%). September job reductions occurred in the Muskegon (-0.8%) and Detroit-Warren-Dearborn (-0.1%) areas, while Niles-Benton Harbor remained unchanged.

Since September 2017, unadjusted nonfarm employment rose statewide by 60,300, or 1.4 percent. Twelve of Michigan’s 14 metro regions reported job gains over this period, led by Grand Rapids-Wyoming (2.9%) and Lansing-East Lansing (1.9%). Over-the-year job reductions occurred in the Muskegon and Jackson regions, with a loss of -0.2 percent each.

County Jobless Rates Down Over Month and Year

79 of Michigan’s 83 counties recorded unemployment rate declines in September, with a median reduction of 0.3 percentage points. One county exhibited a minor rate hike over the month, while three remained unchanged. Since September 2017, unemployment rates fell in all counties with a significant median drop of 1.2 percentage points.

Note: Data in this release is not seasonally adjusted. As a result, employment and unemployment trends may differ from previously released Michigan seasonally adjusted data.

A breakdown of seasonally unadjusted September workforce estimates for Michigan and its 17 major labor market areas follows, along with a listing of county jobless rates for September.